Persimmon questions

The main question is - can they be grown in pots? I’m running out of space for in-ground trees. I know some persimmon trees grow huge. I was looking at Maekawa Jiro from Starks that’s a dwarf. They don’t specify the size of the mature tree though.

To be clear, I am looking to grow it in a large pot permanently, and not just for overwinteting. It would go on the driveway in the summer and probably in the unheated garage (cold but above freezing, some light) in winter, at least for the next winter. Next year I am planning to build a large shed with solar and keep it somewhat heated for overwhintering plants (futute lroblems).

Please share your experiences. Also, if there is a better suited variety I am open to suggestions. It would have to be self pollinating as I definitely dont have room for two trees.

Many thanks

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@tonyOmahaz5 has much experience growing persimmons in pots.

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Rojo Brillante

Tam Kam non astringent Kaki

Chocolate

All are in 15 gallons pots over winter in my tornado shelter.

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Thank you! How cold does it get in the shelter?

Also, this is getting a little ahead of myself, but how is the fruit production?

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20 to 25 F. Unheated. 15 to 25 fruits per tree.

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I am jealous of your lush kaki, Tony. Most of mine got frosted 2 weeks ago and are just starting to bud out again. JT-02 you sent me survived without any damage though!

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I am gladed JT-02 doing well for you. I should get a nice crops of JT-02 this year because all the new tips got flowers.

Tony

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Wow! You will have a big harvest since you have so many trees of this variety. Please post pictures of the fruit in the fall. I can’t find very many pictures comparing size and shapes of this variety.

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Kaki persimmons will generally produce seedless fruit if they’re not pollinated, and most persimmon varieties don’t produce male flowers anyways.

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I purchased an “Isu” fuyu type persimmon from Trees of Antiquity online a few years ago. Mine is in the ground but is a natural semi dwarf, and despite its small size it is a heavy producer. I have heard that dwarf varieties generally do better in containers.

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Tony,
What rootstock your potted persimmons are on?

Mine are on seedlings of an Ameican persimmon my friend dug up for me last year.

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American persimmon seedlings from Missouri Department of conservation.

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Need help selecting planting sites. I need to know projected heights of these trees at maturity. Any help is appreciated.

JT-02 Mikkusu
WS8-10 Barbra’s Blush
H-118 Early Jewel
H-120 Claypool
Rojo Brilliante
Rosseyanka
Kassandra
Chocolate
Prok

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My Chocolate, Willis Orchards, Order#: 100718169113, date: 01/10/2014, D. Lotus rootstock. So in 7 years it is now only about 12’ high and same crown diameter. My hunch is that Lotus rootstock keeps it in a semi dwarf form. You might contact Englands orchards. Cliff England is a valuable source on most varieties
Dennis
Kent, wa

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Not based on my limited experience but the northern nut growing text by John Gordon says the following which made me think Prok must be capable of being quite large. I suppose it depends on if you plan to prune to limit height.

The general rule is to plant as far apart as you see mature persimmons tall. Mature spacing could be 34 ft. by 34 ft./10 m. by 10 m. for Pieper, or 50 ft. by 50 ft. (chestnut spacing) for Geneva Red/Prok/Yates. Summer prune to keep fruit trees small and productive. Train a short tree with five main branches that go out like a spiral stair around the central leader.

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All the ones I have are on D. virginiana rootstock.

I figure Prok would be equal to the size of D.v and I have another full size American. I have room for two other fairly large trees on that row so I’m trying to decide which ones will be the largest. I can’t find any information on Kassandra and I did find a blurb on Rossey that seemed to put it as a smaller tree than I expected it to be. Wondered what everyone is seeing in their orchards.

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Don’t know which row is H but they look like full size units.

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Can you imagine the years invested in this project…… :flushed:

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Wow!

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Tree bark - so dramatic!!

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